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Bereavement Leave

Introduction

Page updated 19 August 2025

The Bereavement Leave policy (replacing Compassionate Leave) forms an element of UCD’s family leave policy framework and the University is committed to supporting employees who may require family related leave, such as in the case of a bereavement.

Every individual and every family is different. The University recognises the diverse nature of families and will respect and support all employees in taking the time they need to cope during a time of great difficulty regardless of their religion, race/ethnicity or sexual orientation.

For a full list of bereavement supports see the (opens in a new window)HSE website

Bereavement Policy

Bereavement Leave is granted at the time of the bereavement to facilitate the employee with paid time off work. The amount of Bereavement Leave that can be availed of varies from 1 to 20 days depending on the nature of the relationship. Full details can be found in the policy.

A summary of the relations covered by the policy is outlined below:

  • immediate relative
    • father, stepfather, mother, stepmother, brother, stepbrother, half-brother, brother-in-law, sister, stepsister, half-sister, sister-in-law, father in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, or grandchild
  • spouse (including a cohabiting partner)
  • child (including adopted children and children being cared for on the basis of 'in loco parentis')
  • any person in a relationship of domestic dependency
  • aunt, uncle, niece, nephew
  • In the event of a stillbirth or prenatal death of a child after twenty-four weeks pregnancy

The policy outlines the relationship between Bereavement Leave and Annual Leave, roles & responsibilities of the employee and Head of School / Unit and details of the notification process.

Read the (opens in a new window)Bereavement Leave  policy now.

This section contains a summary of a UCD policy, however, in all cases the policy remains the definitive source of information on the topic.

Process & Forms

Process

  1. Inform your Head of School/Head of Unit/Line Manager as soon as practicable on your intention to take Bereavement Leave 
  2. Complete the necessary Bereavement Leave Application Form as soon as possible, and within 2 weeks of returning to work, before returning it to(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie

Forms

Bereavement Supports & Helplines

The UCD (EAS) is a 24/7 free and confidential support service designed to assist you in dealing more effectively with any personal or work-related problems you might be facing. The service may assist you with short-term issues but is not designed to provide long-term bereavement counselling.

The service can be used by a UCD employee, their spouse, civil partner and dependents where the family member can be described as over the age of 18 and residing in the family home.

  • Freephone 1800 814 243 (Ire)
  • WhatsApp & SMS: Text ‘Hi’ to 087 369 0010
  • Email: 
  • eap@spectrum.life

A Bereavement Support Group for UCD employees operates annually with a short programme. The support group is intended for colleagues who would like to learn new and supportive ways to reclaim moments of contentment and happiness while honouring those whom they have lost.  

The intention is that support groups can help the bereaved constructively manage the pain of grief, as they provide unique opportunities to both be heard and to bear witness to another's experience that are not often possible during individual counselling. Groups can lessen a sense of isolation that often accompanies grief.

The Bereavement Support Group is modelled on the Taos Institute Program where participants work together as a support for one another with the theme of the group being "Breathing Life into Stories of the Dead".  

This is a non-faith group setting. It is open to colleagues of all faiths and none.  The methodology used does not conform to any faith structure and any input on faith comes from the participants alone.

The  group is modelled on a similar group for students established by UCD’s Student Counselling and Chaplaincy.  The support group will meet in-person over 4 consecutive weeks.

If you would like to find out more or register your interest, please contact:

Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line

A confidential space for people to speak about their experience or to ask questions relating to the death of someone.

Freephone: 1800 80 70 77 - Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm

Website: hospicefoundation.ie

Barnardos Helpline

Bereavement information and support for children and families.

Phone: 01 473 2110 - Monday to Thursday, 10am to 12pm

Website: (opens in a new window)barnardos.ie

Samaritans

Emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope or needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.

Freephone: 116 123 - any time

Email: jo@samaritans.ie

Website: (opens in a new window)samaritans.ie

Text About It

Text About It is a free, 24/7 service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for your mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Free text HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous chat with a trained volunteer, any time.

Website: (opens in a new window)textaboutit.ie

Bereavement through Suicide Supports

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm, and those bereaved by suicide. All services are provided free of charge, and no referral is needed. 

Pieta provides practical support to anyone who needs help in the aftermath of a loss through suicide. Suicide bereavement shares many of the characteristics of other bereavement, but it is also a special grief and often traumatic. This can be complicated by feelings of stigma and isolation, as well as having so many questions, often with no answers.

Pieta offers those bereaved by suicide a safe space, a sense of normality in their experience, a sense of understanding and an opportunity to speak about their experiences.

(opens in a new window)https://www.pieta.ie/how-we-can-help/

HUGG is the national suicide bereavement organisation.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, or if you’re supporting someone who is grieving, their telephone support service offers a safe, understanding space where you connect with others who understand. They offer compassionate emotional support, practical information and signposting to support services

HUGG is an essential lifeline for people who have been bereaved by suicide. Their services include suicide bereavement support groups led by trained volunteers with lived experience of suicide loss, resources on grief after suicide, public events and webinars and advocacy and research.

HUGG’s postvention work is an important part of suicide prevention. Postvention refers to activities that occur after a suicide to help reduce the risk of further suicides or suicidal behaviours and promote healing for people bereaved by suicide. Through being there for those who have lost someone to suicide, HUGG helps to reduce the heightened risk that the bereaved person may experience following a suicide  – which it has been established is ten times higher than with the general population.

(opens in a new window)https://hugg.ie/

Call01 513 4048(monitored answering machine).  This is a part-time service from Monday-Thursday.  Leave a message with your name and number, and one of the HUGG trained team — all with lived experience of suicide loss — will call you back.

Contact the HR Helpdesk

The HR Helpdesk is the primary point of contact for all your employment-related queries by email and telephone.  We are here to help you with any queries on employee benefits, terms & conditions and HR policies & procedures. If we can’t help you directly, we will refer your query to a HR specialist area.

All visitors to UCD HR, Roebuck offices should be by appointment only and arrangements to be made with specific HR staff members.

(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie

+ 353-1-716-4900

UCD HR
Roebuck Offices,
UCD Belfield Campus.

UCD Human Resources

Roebuck Offices, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 4900 | E: hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie | Location Map(opens in a new window)